Improvement in ice-elevators



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEroE.l

ROBERT R. REYNOLDS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN ICE-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,152, dated August 18, 1874; application filed July 21, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. REYNOLDS, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Elevators, of which the following is a specification:

The invention relates to improvements in machinery for elevating ice from the water; and consists in a feedingbox, adjustable elevator, and adjustable gearing for. the transmission of power.

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section through pinion K; and Fig. 3is a longitudinal section through the center of chain shown in Fig. l.

A A represent the side rails of the frame, between which the ice is elevated. They should be made strong, and of a length sufficient to reach from the water to the point where it is desired to deliver the ice. They may bc connected by suitable cross-ties, which carry one or more intermediate rails at each side of the chain for the ice to slide on. B is a box, loosely attached to the rails A, as shown at c. The bottom of this box is submerged in the water from which the ice is to be elevated, and so kept, either by ballast or by being fastened to posts. lts sides B project up out of the water, and are, preferably, wider at the mouth than the iceway between the rails A.

The cakes of out ice are floated into this water-box, from which they are carried up by the elevating-chain.

C C represent posts securely fastened in any suitable manner, and provided with a number of holes, c, through which a horizontal bar, c', passes, to carry the frame A. D

, represents a bail attached to the upper end of the elevating-frame, to which any suitable means may be applied for raising or lowering the frame. E is an endless chain, made with broad flatjointed links, having an opening in the center of each, as shown, and provided with project-ions e, forV supporting the cakes of ice, as shown at E. The chain passes over the pulley F at the water end of the frame, and over the pulley G at the upper end. These pulleys are, preferably, made hexagonal or octagonal. The upper or driving one is provided with a tooth or projection, g, in each side, which engages in the opening of the links of the chain, and effectually prevents the same from slipping. Each link of the chain should be exactly the length of a sideV of the pulley. H H represent a railway in the water, and It a wheel, there being a similar one on the opposite side. This railway supports the lower end of the frame, and allows it to travel forward or back,- as the upper end is lowered or raised; and it is obvious that it must so travel if the upper end be kept in the same vertical plane while at different altitudes.

Any suitable chute may be attached to the upper end of the elevating-frame, to receive the ice from the chain, and to deliver it as desired.

I is the driving-pinion, which may be operf ated by any suitable motor. The pinion K transmits power, through shaft K, to pinion L, and L to pinion P, which is mounted on the same shaft as pulley Gr. The shaft of pinion Iis j ournaled in a substantial stationary framework, M, and K in a sleeve on the end of an adjustable arm, N, collared on I at its lower end. Q. Q represent brackets attached to the rails a a, to which journal -bearings, for the shaft on which pulley G and pinion P are mounted, are arranged. This work requires to be strong, as it has a heavy weight to sustain. Trepresents ayoke provided with a sleeve on each arm, which fit loosely around the shaft on each side of pinion P 5 or the inner arm may be fastened to the bracket Q. It is also provided with another sleeve, S, through which the shaft K passes, and, by means of which pinions L and P are kept in gear, and are carried up or down as the frame A is raised or lowered.

To enable the frame to be raised or lowered in the same vertical plane, pinion K is loose on its shaft, so that the length of shaft may accommodate the height of the frame, the pinion being kept in place, when in operation,

`by screw Z, Fig. 2. This feature of adjusting the length of shaft is an essential one, as by it the drivinggearing may be conveniently used instead of a belt, as heretofore, and which is objectionable on account ofthe difficulty in keeping it in order, owing to its exposure to ,water and frost.

It is obvious that a change oi' power or speed may be secured by a change of the relative sizes oi' the driving and driven gears, and that the machine may be used for lowering as well as elevating.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In an ice-elevator, the combination of the pinions I, K, L, and P, and their shafts arranged so that L and P may be raised or lowered with the frame in the same vertical-plane, substantially as described. Y Q

2. In combination with the adjustable side frames, the polygonal pulleys F G and hinged chain E, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July, 1874.

R. n. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

JULIUs Tosso, EDWARD BOYD. 

